Maggie Banks has been asked to run a bookshop owned by her pregnant friend, however this is not any bookshop, it is set in Bell River, a heritage town where everything is set in aspic around famous author, Edward Bell. Maggie shakes things up and annoys the Bell Society and nearly loses her friends bookshop too. A good read, although Maggie does need a bit of a stern talking to!

Put the word book in a title and I'm going to pick it up. I usually don't even read the description which can be hit it miss. This one was defiantly a hit.

I really like the character of maggie. I think we can all see a little of yourself in her. And even though in theory her and Malcom shouldn't work I found myself really routing for them as a couple.

The plot kept my interest from start to finish. I found myself going to bed early at night so I could read a few extra chapters.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me free access to the advanced digital copy of this book.

A book that is about books..... the booklovers dream really! A lovely read and well written.

*Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an ARC of this book in return for my honest review.

A book about books what’s not to love!

This was a super fast and fun read. I enjoyed the character of Maggie and her dislikes for rules. I loved the setting and the local characters we meet along the way.

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley UK for a free ebook in exchange for an honest review.

This was a fun and easy listen. I love books about books so this was right up my street! Packed with literary references and an underground bookclub, this will delight readers!

I enjoyed The Secret Book Club, a delightful read that I was surprised to find I had already picked up under a different title. The story’s charm and wit are unmistakable, centered around Maggie Banks, who’s determined to shake up her small town’s outdated literary scene. The underground book club she starts provides a clever twist and keeps the plot engaging as Maggie navigates the challenges of selling modern books in a community stuck in the past.

The characters are memorable, with Maggie's rebellious spirit making her a likable protagonist. Her battle against the restrictive local literary society adds a fun and rebellious layer to the narrative. The book's ability to blend humor with a heartfelt story about the love of literature makes it a standout read. Even though I’d read it before, the fresh perspective and memorable moments ensured it was just as enjoyable the second time around.

The Secret Book Club by Shauna Robinson

Good to know this is also published as The Banned Bookshop of Maggie Banks. (which I had already read)

This is a book about books and I love it!

Maggie finds herself unemployed and looking for a job. Her friends help her out and she gets a job at a bookstore in Bell River while her friend is on maternity leave. Maggie loves books and reading and is so happy until she sets her foot in the bookstore. Where are all the popular books? All she can see is books from a specific time period. She finds out that the town's historical society decides what can and can not be sold in the bookstore.

Maggie, she is someone who doesn't care much for rules so she decides to sell popular books behind the counter and starts a secret book club with some of the locals in town.

This was a fast and sweet read and I loved it a lot.

Thank you to NetGalley, HarperCollins UK and One More Chapter for this eARC.

Maggie is having a rough time so when her friend offers her the opportunity to run her bookstore while she goes on maternity leave, she decides to take her up on it. The problem is, the bookstore isn’t too profitable because it only sells books from a certain time period because the town historical society owns and runs most of the town puts restrictions on what can be done and sold in the town. After attending a booksellers event, she gets inspired to make the store more profitable for her friend by forming a back door book club and sells books that would otherwise be banned from the store and starts to host author events that have members of the town excited to come to now that they can buy something other than books from 1838. The connections she makes with the townspeople, and in particular her grumpy upstairs neighbor Vernor, are what really make the story.

Thank you Netgalley and the publishers for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

It was a fun read with an almost predictable part and I hope the ending was better. It felt a bit loose and easy.

This book was so cute! I read this as an at-work read, and it was so perfect for just that.

Being able to understand how the main character feels, is so important. Being told what you're allowed to sell in a bookstore? Crazy!! This had everything I expected from this book, and more. It was so good.

What a great story full of fun and mischief as well as some potential romance. Thoroughly enjoyed every moment of this book and was routing for Maggie the whole way.

In The Secret Book Club, (published as The Banned Bookshop of Maggie Banks in North America) Shauna Robinson delivers a delightful tale set in the quaint town of Bell River, where books are not just a pastime but a way of life. The protagonist, Maggie Banks, arrives with the intent to rejuvenate her best friend’s struggling bookstore, only to find herself at odds with the town’s rigid literary society.

Maggie, a character who doesn’t much care for rules, finds herself banned from selling contemporary books. In response, she starts an underground book club, breathing new life into the shop by celebrating the books people truly love, rather than those dictated by tradition. This rebellious act sets off a series of events that are both heartwarming and fraught with tension, as Maggie dodges the literary society and uncovers a secret that could change the town forever.

The strength of Robinson’s writing lies in her ability to craft a narrative that’s predictable yet thoroughly engaging. From the outset, the reader may guess the trajectory of the story, but it’s the journey—not the destination—that captivates. Robinson deftly weaves themes of community, friendship, and self-discovery into her narrative, presenting a story that’s as much about personal growth as it is about literary love.

It is a quick and enjoyable read, peppered with moments that are both fun and thought-provoking. It’s a book about books, but also about the people who read them and the impact literature can have on a community. Robinson doesn’t just tell a story; she invites readers to consider the importance of stories in their own lives.

I rated this book four stars out of five for its charming setting, engaging plot, and the sheer joy of following Maggie as she challenges the status quo. It’s a feel-good book that reminds us why sometimes, breaking the rules can lead to the most rewarding outcomes.

For anyone looking for a light, feel-good read that champions the transformative power of books, “The Secret Book Club” is a perfect pick. It’s a story that proves even the most predictable plots can be deeply satisfying when told with heart and passion.

Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to receive this book for an honest review.

I I love books that are about books and book shops but this one was disappointing. This is about Maggie who moves to Bell River to help a friend run a book shop. The book shop only sells historical books which I am devinately not interested in. And for that reason I had a hard time relating.

Even though Maggie forms a secret book club to bring in modern books, I found it disappointing.

This book just wasn't for me.

I was attracted to this book due to the mention of books and book shops and book clubs - some of my favourite things! However, I did not like this book. Maggie moves to Bell River to assist her friend run a book shop. The thing with Bell River is, it has history, and that history runs everything - the cafe has to sell ‘historic’ food, the book shop can only sell historic novels. The problem is, only the tourists are interested in this ‘unique’ marketing technique - all of the locals buy their books from out of town.

Maggie instantly upsets the status quo, bringing more harsh restrictions on her friend’s book store. To counter this, Maggie starts a ‘black market’ for modern novels, as well as a unique, secret book club, where authors read their spin on a classic tale.

I found the characters to be flat and annoying, I didn’t like the storyline - I don’t mind suspending belief, but the cult-like tone of Bell River took it to another level

This isn’t one I would recommend.

A book about books sounds always promising. Sadly this book wasn't for me. I didn't connect with the characters at all and really struggled with this one. I didn't find the romance very interesting.

However I know that many readers will like this book, it just wasn't for me.

thank you to netgalley for the advanced reading copy. I really enjoyed this and will be getting copies for my shop.

The description of this book sounded interesting and very intriguing. I wanted to find out what happened and whether the Secret Book Club would be discovered.
I liked the characters and enjoyed reading about the various secrets. Overall I enjoyed reading this book.
Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for my ARC.

This was the cutest small town, book store, secret society story. I loved how we experienced Maggie's character growth along with her, but there wasn't a lot of us knowing before she knew on her path. We weren't rolling our eyes that she was missing out on information or missing opportunities. We were with her figuring out her career and relationship path, as well as her book club path and excitement. Malcom is such a diverse character who we also get a glimpse into his progress of development, I wish he had invited Maggie on his adventures more, but I appreciate how he was able to break from his every day shell and become a person on his own. Vernon was the best grumpy old man with a heart of gold and I love how he was tied into the ending and the big reveal. His love of the book club and his encouragement and participation was so sweet and inspiring.
There were a few things that bugged me, like Maggie feeling like she had to keep the secrets from Rochelle and her keeping T.J. Hull from Malcom, I would have a hard time forgiving that. But overall, it was a very sweet read and I loved that I was able to read it. Thank you Netgalley and One More Chapter!

I really enjoyed this book. It was different than anything else I've read recently. I couldn't put it down! I will keep an eye out for this author's future work!